Automatic vending machine attachment



ec. M, 1943. R. R. DUNN 2,33,780

AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT Filed Dec. 20, 1941 QTNVENTOR iciz/ard [2. 291mm Patented Dec. 14, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE assa'zsc AUTOMATIC VENDING MACHINE ATTACHMENT This invention relates to improvements in automatic vending machines.

Automatic vending machines in general have the disadvantage that dishonest persons are able to insert slugs, improper coins or other objects therein to ffect operation of the machine, resulting in considerable losses in revenue, and sometimes damaging or jamming the machines. Since automatic vending machines are usually inspected by an attendant only at relatively infrequent intervals, detection of persons deliberately inserting improper objects is seldom possible.

Numerous devices have been proposed andsome installed on automatic vending machines to prevent thls improper operation, but this involved relatively complicated and expensive mechanisms.

It is an object of the present invention to provide simple and efficient means whereby the use of automatic vending machines is restricted to a number of selected and trusted persons, whereby the need for providing complicated slug-detecting protective devices is obviated.

To accomplish this object, means is provided for normally closing the coin-receiving aperture of an automatic vending machine, operable by means of a lock mechanism or similar device to open the aperture temporarily. I'he look, if desired, may be operated by a combination known only to those authorized to use the machine, but preferably it is operated by means of keys which are distributed among the selected persons.

Thus, according to the present invention, where the automatic vending machine is to be used only by a cooperative, club, or other group or organization, only those persons provided with the combination or key may use the machine, and the necessity for complicated mechanisms to prevent operation of, or damage to, the machine from the insertion of slugs is substantially obviated.

Preferably, the lock is so arranged as to prevent removal of the key unless the coin-receiving aperture is first closed, so that the possibility of one of the users inadvertently leaving the slot open is rendered very unlikely. The lock-operated mechanism of the invention, for opening and closing the coin-receiving aperture, is characterized by utmost simplicity and effectiveness and may be economically manufactured largely of sheet metal stampings.

Sometimes, an authorized user of the machine I may inadvertently attempt to insert a coin of incorrect denomination. If the coin is too large, the limited size of the aperture readily prevents insertion, but if smaller than the correct coin, it readily enters the aperture.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide means for conveying coins of the correct denomination to the automatic vending mechanism by gravity, while smaller coins are automatically returned also by gravity to a coinreturn receptacle on the exterior of the machine.

The latter object is accomplished by providing a coin-return chute of simple and effective design for sorting coinsinserted into the aperture.

The device of the present invention is especially applicable for use in automatic vending mechlarger coins.

aperture i2 is formed with a tray ill for catch-.

anisms for gasoline pumps, beverage or other liq- Fig. 3 is a rear view of the panel, including the mechanism of Fig.2 and showing the coin chute in cross-section along the line 8-3 in Fig. 2.

Fig.4 is a plan view of the said panel, mechanism, and coin chute.

As illustrated in the drawing, the panel in comprises a slot I I of suitable dimensions to Just permit insertion of coins of the correct denomi nation but too small to permit the insertion of Below the said slot, a coin-return ing coins falling through said aperture.

A slot-closing mechanism It is secured to the rear of the panel i0, comprising a plate l5 secured to the panel, as for instance by rivets lid,

having a slot or aperture therein coinciding with the aperture ii in the panel. A guide plate I6 issecured to the rear surface of the plate It,

as for instance by means of screws I1 and is.

provided with a similar aperture registering with the slot ll. Opposite edges of the plate l6 are.

flanged. over to provide a pair of parallel guides l8, which carry a slot-closing member it comprising a plate, the opposite edges of which are engaged by the said guides. The slot-closing member I9 is provided with an aperture 20 adapted, when said member is in a Elven position, to

register with the slot II in the panel I and the corresponding apertures or slots in the plates l5 and 13, A fixed tab or lug 2|, lanced outwardly from one end of the plate 16, is connected by means of a tension spring 22 to a corresponding tab or lug 23 similarly lanced from the corresponding end of the slot-closing member l9. The said spring normally urges the slot-closing member I9 to a position in which the slot therein is out of register with the slot ll of the panel, that is, to the right in Fig. 3, thereby preventing insertion of coins through the said slot. Screws 11 may, if desired, project sufilciently from plate IE to engage the right-hand end of the slot-closing member 19, so that they serve as stop means limiting slot-closing movement of said member under the influence of spring 22.

The operating mechanism, according to the invention, for moving the slot-closing member l9 so as to bring the slot 20 into registry with the slot II, that is to the left in Fig. 3 and thereby permit the insertion of a coin into the machine, comprises a lock 24 of the conventional Yale type. The lock is operable by a key, inserted in the keyhole 24a from the front of panel l0, and comprises a barrel rotatable about its axis by means of the key when the latter is inserted therein. In locks of this type, the key is adapted to coalign a number of tumblers normally preventing rotation of the. barrel, so as to permit rotation of the barrel. Furthermore, in conventional locks of this type, the key can only be inserted when the barrel is in a predetermined angular position, and the barrel must be returned to this position in order to remove the key.

The inner end of the barrel 25 carries a radial finger 29 secured thereto'having a cam surface 21 on its end. A bracket 28, secured to the rear the slot-closing member l9 into registry with the slot II in panel l0. Thus, upon insertion of a key in the lock 24 and turning it through an angle of 90, the slot-closing member l9, normally urged by spring 22 to slot-closing position, is

moved in its guides l8 to slot-registering position surface of plate i5 by means of a screw 29, comprises a pair of lugs 30 and 3i lanced therefrom and extending into the path of the finger 26 so as to limit its movement to an angle less than a full revolution, for instance an angle of about 90 as shown. When the barrel 25 of the lock 24 is positioned for insertion or removal of the key, the finger 26 is vertically positioned engaging lug 30 as shown in Fig. 3.

At one side, adjacent slot-closing member IS, the bracket 28 has a tab 32 bent into a horizontal plane for pivotally supporting an operating lever 33 for the slot-closing member I9. One end of the said lever is bifurcated as indicated at 34, the prongs thereof engaging a projection 35, included between them, said projection being formed by means of a crimped piece of sheet metal 36, secured as for instance by rivets, spot welding or screws, to the slot-closing'member l9.

The opposite end of the operating lever 33 extends into the path of the radial finger 26 carried by the lock barrel 25. Cam surface 21 is adapted, when the said finger is rotated by the barrel 25 through an angle of 90 from its initial so that a coin may be inserted through slots II and 29 into the vending machine, Since the slot-opening operation'of the lock is limited to less than a full revolution of its barrel, the key cannot be removed from the lock as long as the slot is open. Upon return of the lock barrel to its initial position, lever 33 is released; spring 22 returns the slot-closing member [9 to its initial position, and the key is released for removal by conventional means in the lock 24.

A coin chute 31 is secured to the plate I5 or rear surface of panel ID as for instance byscrews 33. This chute comprises a substantially vertical portion 39 through which coins drop by gravity when inserted through the slots H and 20 during mutual registration thereof. The lower end of the vertical portion 39 of chute 3'l communicates at a relatively abrupt elbow with an inclined chute portion 40 forming an obtuse angle with the vertical portion 39, and having a sufficiently steep incline to permit coins to slide downward therein by gravity. The lower end of the inclined portion 40 of the chute 31 communicates with coin-operated delivery mechanism 4|, and is adapted to deposit coins therein, either for mechanically or electrically actuating or priming said mechanism for operation, after which the coin is deposited in a collecting compartment. The automatic delivery mechanism may be of any conventional design.

The inclined portion 40 of the chute 31 is constructed of Just suflicient breadth to accommodate colns of the desired denomination, as for instance fifty cent pieces. An elongate aperture or slot 42 is formed in the lower surface of the inclined portion 40 of chute 31 substantially centrally located in said surface so as to provide a pair of flanges 43 on opposite sides of the aperture of sufficient breadth to support coins of the correct denomination thereon as long as such coins remain flat against the lower surface of the chute. The breadth of aperture '42 is sufficient however to permit coins of the next smaller position to the opposite limit of its motion in which it engages lug 3|, as illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. 3, to engage the projecting end of the operating lever 33 and to rock the lever about its pivot, moving the engaged end of the lever to the right. The resulting movement in the opposite direction of the bifurcated end 34 of the lever 33 moves the projection 35, and hence the. slot-closing member l9, to the left against the tension of the spring 22.

The cam 2i'and lever 33 are so constructed that the said movement of the radial finger 26 to the limit of its motion brings the slot 20 inv denomination (e. g. quarters) to fall through it.

Because of the narrowness of flanges 43, it is possible that coins of the correct denomination might bounce in such a manner that they would encounter the aperture 42 without lying fiat against flanges 43 and would consequently fall diagonally through the aperture and fail to reach the delivery mechanism.

According to the present invention, means is provided to prevent this from happening. This means-comprises a weakly resilient tongue 44 having an offset 44a at its lower end secured,'for instance by spot welding or soldering, to the upper surface of the inclined chute portion 40, at a point adjacent the lower end of aperture 42. The upper end of the tongue is bent upwardly as indicated at 45 adjacent the junction of the vertical and inclined portions 39 and 40 of the chute 31 so that a coin falling through chute 39 cannot enter the space'above the tongue 44 in chute 40. The said tongue is normally yieldably positioned so that the flanged end 45 does not engage the upper surface of the chute 40. Preferably, it is normally positioned adjacent to the lower surface of said chute and may even touch the lower surface.

or elbow of the two chut sections 88 and 40, it

encounters the lower surface of'flange t and is momentarily positioned as shown with one edge Iclaim: 11 1. In an automatic vending machine having a coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof. a member slidably movable across said resting against the lower surface of chute 40 and 5 aperture on the interior of the machine for openthe opposite edgeresting against one side of chute 89. The weight or momentum of the coin causes the tongue 48 to yield resiliently upward to permitithe coin to pass by, but insuresv that ing and closing thereof; yieldable means normally urging said member to aperture-closing position; cam means for moving said member to apertureopening position and for blocking said 1 member the coin emerges from the elbow, in such posiin said position; and a lock mechanism operable tion that it lies flat against the lower surface of chute it. Any tendency of the coin to bounce is largely eliminated at the elbow," and is further checked by the proximity of the tongue lit to the lower surface of the inclined chute. the coin is of the correct denomination, it slides down the said'chute with its edges engaging both flanges .43 so that it cannot fall through the aperture d2.

However, if a smaller coin is inserted, tongue-Ad tends to urge the coin downward as it passes the elbow at the junction of the two chute portions, so that the edges thereof fail to engage one or the other of flanges 3 and the co n falls downward through the aperture 62 bethe only by. a removable member for moving said Thus, if therefrom only while said slidable member is in aperture-closing position.

2. In an automatic vending machine, a coinreceiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof; a member slidably movable across said aperture on the interior of the machine for opening and closing said aperture; resilient means normally urging said member to slot-closing position; a pivoted rocker member for moving said slidable member to aperture-opening position; cam means adapted to engage and operate said i rocker member for moving said slidable member Beneath the aperture 32, a coin return chute 41 extends downwardly at an angle from chute, portion and is adapted to deposit the coin on an inclined surface 48 leading to the coin return aperture it at the front of the panel it. Accordingly, when an improper coin falls through the aperture 52 into the chute All, it slides onto the inclined surface 38 and thence outward through the aperture l2 into the coinreturn tray 13 from which it may be recovered by the owner.

The automatic vending mechanism it may be arranged to operate or to permit operation of a mechanism for delivering predetermined amounts of gasoline, beverages, packages or other articles to a purchaser. As stated above, the device of the present invention substantially obviates the possibility of tampering with the machine by persons unauthorized to use it, thus substantially removing the problem of loss or damage by insertion of slugs. The fact that the key cannot be removed from the lock until the slot is closed substantially eliminates the possibility of leaving the machine open through carelessness of a user. The coin-return device provides a simple and efficient means for returning coins of incorrect denominations which may be inserted into the slot. The slot-closing mechanism is simple and effective and may be economically constructed largely from sheet metal stampings.

If keys are lost and ran into the hands of other persons, or if some of the authorized users prove to be dishonest and are detected, they may be readily prevented from further use of the machine by simply changing the lock and issuing new keys. While a combination lock, which usually has a number of tumblers normally preventing releasing operationthereof and movable to efiect such release by an unobvious sequence of predetermined manipulations, .could be substi tuted for the key-operated lock described above, the latter is preferred since combination locks ordinarily permit leaving the slot open by mistake.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scopeof this invention and portions of the improvements may be used without others.

to aperture-opening position and for blocking return movement of said member; and operating means for said cam comprising a concealed in- 0 strumentality requiring predetermined unobvious complementary manipulation for operation,

thereof. 3. In an automatic vending machine having a coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof; a plate adapted'to cover said aperture;

guide means on the interior of the machine slid ably carrying said plate for movement to cover and uncover said aperture; resilient means normally urging said plate to aperture-covering po- 4o sition; a pivoted rocker member engaging said plate for movement thereof to aperture-uncovering position; rotatable cam means for temporarily moving said rocker member to slide said plate to aperture-openingposition and blocking 5 the same in open position; and rotatable oper- 55 and uncover said aperture; resilient means normally urging said plate to aperture covering position; a pivoted rocker member engaging said plate for movement thereof to aperture-uncovering position; rotatable cam means for moving 0 said rocker member so as to move the plate slidably to aperture-uncovering position; and a lock mechanism requiring a removable member for operating said cam means, said lock being adapted to receive said removable member and to release said member for removal therefrom only while said plate is in aperture-covering position.

5. In an automatic vending machine having a coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof; a plate adapted to cover said aperture;

guide, means on the interior of the machine slidably carrying said plate for movement to cover and uncover said aperture; resilient means nor mally urging said plate to aperture-covering position; a pivoted" rocker member engaging said plate for movement thereof to aperture-uncover.-

ing position; rotatable cam means adapted to engage said rocker member for moving it so as to move said plate's'lidably to aperture-opening position; a lock having a rotatable barrel upon 8. In an automatic vending machine having a coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof, a slide movable across said aperture on the interior voi. the machine for opening and closing said aperture; yieldable means normally urging said slide to aperture-closing position; means rotatably mounted on the machine to release said member for removal therefrom only while said cam is positioned to permit the plate to cover the aperture.

6. In an automatic vending machine having a coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof, a movable slide for opening and closing said aperture; yieldable means normally urging said slide .to aperture-closing position; and manually operable mean actuatedby a removable member, said means being rotatably mounted on the machine and having a member thereon operable upon rotation thereof to move the slide to open position against the urging means and blocking return of said slide by the urging means 7. In an automatic vending machine having a until said member is returned by the actuation of said means.

coin-receiving aperture in the exterior surface thereof, a movable slide ior opening and closin said aperture; yieldable means normally urging said slide to aperture-closing position; manually operable means mounted on the machine for movement with respect ,thereto and having a member thereon for moving the slide to open position against the urging means; means for positioning said member with the slide in open position and the'member in alignment with and opposing the force of the urging means to block return of said slide by the urging means until said member is manually returned; and means 4 for controlling the said manually operable means.

and including ap'member thereon movable from a normal inoperative position for moving the 10 slide to open position against the urging means;

means for stopping said member when the slide is in open position and the member in alignment with and opposing the force of the urge ing means to block return of said slide by the urging means until said member is returned to normal position; and means for controlling the movement of said member comprising a con- ,eealed instrumentality requiring predetermined unobvious complementary manipulation for operation thereof.

9. In an automatic vending machine having a -coin-receiving aperture in the exteriorsurface thereof, a slide on the machine movable across said aperture for opening and closing said aperture; a pivoted operator for said slide; yieldable means normally urging said slid 'to apertureclosing position; manually operable means rotatably mounted on the machine and having a member thereon engaging said pivoted operator for moving the slide to open position against the urging means; mean for arresting movement of said-member when the slide is in open position and the member is in'alignment with and opposing the force of the urging means to block return of said slide by the urging means until said member is manually returned; and means foroontrolling the said manually operable means comprising a concealed instrumentality requiring predetermined unobvious complementary manipulation for operation thereof.

RICHARD R. DUNN 

